Off the Shelves – September 8

The following item is available at the Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. For more information on the library’s collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.

Adult Fiction

“The Mandibles, a Family: 2029-2047” by Lionel Shriver

This futuristic novel explores the effects of an economically devastated United States on a once-prosperous American family. In 2029, a world war wipes out the savings of millions of Americans. The Mandibles had been counting on a sizable fortune at the death of their 97-year-old patriarch, but now the inheritance is gone.

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“The Mandibles,” a futuristic novel about the bankruptcy of the United States is now available at the Hancock County Public Library. Submitted

“After the Fall,” a novel about a mysterious plane crash, is now available on audio at the Hancock County Public Library. Submitted

This book, written by a former White House correspondent, explores the lives of the modern first ladies. Submitted

Family members contend with disappointment but also the challenge of sheer survival. Recently affluent, Avery is petulant that she can’t buy olive oil, while her sister Florence absorbs strays into her cramped household. Aunt Nollie returns from abroad, and her brother Carter fumes at caring for their demented stepmother now that an assisted living facility isn’t affordable.

Only Florence’s oddball son, Willing, a self-taught economist, can save the family from the streets. “The Mandibles” is about money, bitterness, rivalry and selfishness but also about generosity, sacrifice and adaptation to changing circumstances.

{span style=”text-decoration: underline;”}Adult Nonfiction{/span}

“First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies,” by Kate Anderson Brower

The First Lady of the United States must be many things: an inspiring leader with a forward-thinking agenda of her own; a savvy politician, skilled at navigating the treacherous rapids of Washington; a wife and mother operating under constant scrutiny; and an able CEO responsible for the operation of countless events at the White House. Former White House correspondent Kate Andersen Brower draws on an array of untapped, candid sources to tell the stories of ten remarkable women — from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama — who have defined that role since 1960. The stories range from the heartwarming to the shocking and tragic, exploring everything from the first ladies’ friendships with other first ladies to their public and private relationships with their husbands.

{span style=”text-decoration: underline;”}On Audio{/span}

“After the Fall,” by Noah Hawley

On a foggy summer night, ten privileged people and one down-on-his-luck painter depart Martha’s Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Minutes later, the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs — the painter– and a four-year-old boy, the last member of a wealthy media mogul family. The story weaves between the crash aftermath and the back stories of the passengers. As the passengers’ intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something more sinister at work? As Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage, and the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel.